Why NYU Shanghai is Buzzing

Updated November 2023

Summary: If you’re looking for a truly global education, in a thriving international city, from one of the world’s top universities, consider applying to NYU Shanghai.

Looking for something different?

NYU (New York University) opened a full-fledged, four-year college program in Shanghai back in 2012 that would give both Chinese and non-Chinese students the same great undergraduate education they’d get from the New York campus, but in a more global context, and in the center of the China’s thriving financial center. All courses are taught in English. And you receive the exact same B.A. degree as your counterparts back in New York City. But, you get to immerse yourself in the Chinese culture, enjoy all the benefits the country has to offer, and — perhaps most important from a career standpoint — differentiate yourself from other graduates because you gain firsthand expertise and experience in the ever-important Chinese job market.

Getting in…

The first thing you need to know about NYU Shanghai is that the application process is extremely selective. They have less than a 7% acceptance rate, compared to a 13% acceptance rate for NYU in New York. That puts the acceptance rate on-par with the Ivy Leagues. Part of the reason it’s so selective is that the student body is quite small. (There are only 1,600 undergraduates at NYU Shanghai, compared to 30,000 in New York.) Plus, lots of top students from all over China want to go there. When you apply to NYU using the Common App, you simply check a box indicating whether you’re applying to the New York campus, the Shanghai campus, or both. (There’s also an Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates campus, if you’re interested.)

A global education…

A big reason to enroll at NYU Shanghai is to get a truly global education. Not only are you studying in a foreign city, but you’re living with classmates from all over the world. Half of the students come from China, and the other half come every other corner of the globe: the U.S., Argentina, Germany, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, etc. NYU’s New York campus is renowned for it’s global feel; over 25% of the student body are international students! But NYU Shanghai takes it to another level. The benefit is that you get to learn from students of all different backgrounds and viewpoints, and you learn to see the world through a more global lens. Plus, non-Chinese students are matched with Chinese roommates, so you immediately learn to build bridges with locals, and even learn the language.

Where it excels…

At NYU Shanghai, you get a well-balanced liberal arts education in addition to your major. But because it’s such a small university, there are only 19 majors to choose from (compare this with almost 100 different majors at the New York campus). The areas where NYU Shanghai really excels is in the areas of Math, Science, Computer Science, Business, and Economics. This is not the place to go to study English Literature or Film Studies or Psychology. You can probably find some of those courses. But the university really excels in disciplines like Chemistry, Biology, Neuroscience, Data Science, Engineering and Finance. Here you’ll be competing (and collaborating) with some of the brightest young minds from China, so it will really up your game in those core areas.

The downside…

There are a few issues to consider, however. First, not every student is ready to spend their entire college career in a foreign country. Shanghai can be pretty hectic and overwhelming, so it takes someone who thrives on international adventure. Also, there’s no traditional college campus to speak of. The school features a beautiful brand-new building in the heart of the financial district, but the dorms are all about 30 minutes away. You have to take an NYU shuttle or subway to get to your classes every day.

Additionally, the air quality in Shanghai is notoriously poor. There will be days when the air outside is orange and thick and you’ll need to wear a mask to go outdoors. Finally, China is not a liberal democracy; it’s an authoritarian state with a very unpopular track record on issues like free access to the internet, censorship, government surveillance, human rights, etc. While the NYU Shanghai campus is described to be something of a welcome bubble, it’s still something to keep in mind.

Final thoughts.

Although all of your courses will be taught in English, all students much achieve proficiently in Mandarin Chinese before they graduate. If you don’t speak a word of Chinese, don’t worry; you’ll be in the same boat with most international students. Also, in the spirit of a truly global education, all NYU Shanghai students must spend at least one semester at one of NYU’s other worldwide campuses, such as New York, Florence, London, Paris, Prague, Washington DC, etc.